Lee Lai-shan, Hong Kong's first Olympic gold medalist, takes over the Olympic torch from Chief Executive Donald Tsang at 10:28 a.m. on Friday to start the Hong Kong leg of torch relay back in China after a trip spanning the five continents.

The 20th leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay started in Hong Kong SAR at 10:28 am local time on Friday.

Lee Lai-shan, Hong Kong's first ever Olympic gold medalist, was the first runner. She was followed by Olympic table tennis stars Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak and Hong Kong heartthrob Andy Lau.

"Today, the Olympic torch relay resumes on Chinese soil after its global journey across five continents. It is a great and solemn honor for Hong Kong, Asia's world city, to be the first city in China to welcome back the Olympic flame on behalf of our proud nation," said Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, before he handed the first torch to Lee.

As a cosmopolitan city of China, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to play this bridging role between the peoples of the world, and the people of our country, he said.

"In Hong Kong, we are a world in a city, where different people, with different beliefs, and different views have thrived in the spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect. This same spirit feeds the Olympic flame, and makes it burn brightly," he said.